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Bid for new villa work favoured
PLANS for a new extension to a Grade II-listed building in Sheffield have been recommended for approval despite objections from heritage groups.
Architects firm Hadfield Cawkwell Davidson has applied to demolish the existing extension and build a new one, as well as carrying out landscaping work and building a new car park at 13, Broomgrove Road.
The Georgian villa, which was built around 1820, is currently occupied by the architecture firm, which also has offices at number 17 on the same road.
A planning application has been approved, however, to
create 30 apartments at number 17 and, as a result, the company wishes to create more office space at number 13. When it was built the villa was the home of the Wilson family, snuff merchants in Sheffield.
At that time the plot extended as far as what is now number 17 Broomgrove Road and also boasted impressive gardens.
Hadfield Cawkwell Davidson has applied to build a contemporary-style extension to the side and rear of the villa, using traditional materials which would have to be approved by the planning authority prior
to building work being carried out.
The extension would have a vegetated roof in order to blend in with the landscape.
A new car parking area for 28 cars, an increase on the current 24 spaces, would also be built and shielded from the road by a new two metre-high box hedge.
That hedge would also separate the car park from the listed villa.
In the report to go before the planning committee on June 16, planning officers say the new extension would be a vast improvement on the current one, which is described as "unsympathetic".
Describing the plans, the report says: "Traditional materials are proposed to complement the listed building, but detailed in a contemporary manner.
"The ends of each wing will be clad in local ashlar stone. The architectural approach is of good quality, crisp design which complements the symmetry of the front elevation of the existing building."
However, there have been objections to the proposals from groups that feel the extension would not be in keeping with the character of the listed building.
When the plans went before the Sheffield Conservation Advisory Group on February 26 the group said the application should be refused on the grounds that the villa was unique in Sheffield and such an extension would obstruct the original square Palladian building.
The planning report reads: "The group also expressed concerns over the proposed removal of several trees and shrubs in the area, which would destroy the setting of the listed building and adversely affect the conservation area as a whole.
"The group felt this was a classical building within beautiful surroundings and that a dangerous precedent would be set if an extension were allowed to be built."
The Georgian Society agreed that the application should be refused, on the grounds that the extension "would be damaging on both its appearance and character."
The society added: "The wrap-around nature of the proposed extension would impact on both the footprint of the villa, which is effectively squared and symmetrical on every elevation, and its appearance from every viewpoint.
"The proposed development would not preserve the character or appearance of the conservation area."
English Heritage, however, did not object to the proposals and said its initial reservations had been resolved after discussions and amendments to the plans.
The planning application will be heard at a meeting next week when councillors are being recommended to approve the scheme.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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